African Economic Growth and Development: Lessons from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

Abstract

Various scholars have written extensively on issues bordering on development and economic integration within the African continent. Some of such studies focus on the colonial period, while others on post-colonial epochs. However, contemporary discussions have rightfully identified that Africa is on the verge of a new wave of imperialism which characterized trappings of both the colonial and post-colonial epochs. In spite of dictates of foreign policy, the current globalization set-up is doomed to ensure Africa plays second fiddle. Supporting this further are two key issues. Firstly the ‘boom-burst' pattern of economic growth in Africa since the 1850s; and secondly the raise of new economic hegemon (s) who constantly seek for Africa's "cheap” primary resource. This paper is therefore a modest attempt to bring these issues into clearer perspective under the prism of economic integration. Subsisting on the Flying Geese (FG) theoretical framework and adopting both quantitative and descriptive methodology, the paper arrives at the conclusion that Africa stands to learn a lot from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The paper further concludes that since this arrangement (i.e. ASEAN) ‘muscled' its way into the international system, institutional policy responses are needed to ensure Africa avoids the same wave of imperialism which characterized the 19^th and 20^th centuries.